September 12 '06: Five years after the attacks on September 11, 2001 New York City firefighters are still facing challenges in communicating with other first responders, and upgrading and improving their response capabilities and technologies, Government Computer News reported, chronicling an interview with Michael Pena, a top lieutenant with New York City's Rescue Company 1.

"The main problem is no the technology but rather the human factor of the police department and the fire department not wanting to communicate with each other," Pena said.

Pena said after 9/11, communications' improvement among agencies "did change a little ... with the integration of radios placed in both police department and fire department supervisor cars to be able to communicate with each other on the command level. This is where the interagency communication needs to be, not on the operational level between firefighters and police officers."

Pena also said the FDNY still does not have modernized systems in place. He listed three improvements most needed: communications' abilities on the command level; a centralized command point and coordination with local emergency management operations to avoid duplication of efforts; and basic radio, cell phone, direct-connect phone and BlackBerry connectivity.

Having improved communications would help to diversify and strengthen response methods in the department, Pena continued. "We don't rely on just one service. Most cities have been doing this since 9/11. There's been a recognition that they need redundant systems."